My Morning Commute

[jrenaut]

@grandallj 55050 wrote:

I got my new rain jacket in the mail yesterday but couldn’t quite muster the courage to test it out commuting today . . . .

So I drove.

Even the nicest rain jacket does very little against softball-sized hail and 80 mph gusts of wind. No shame in driving today. Though it is currently sunny out my window, so…

[rpiretti]

Spiced my commute up a little this morning, usually route N to S and stop at Shirlington but kept going and had some free time so I just watched some planes land this morning. Should do this more often.

[mello yello]

Got cheered on by a pedestrian this morning, while bombing down a very steep hill “You go Red!”
Startled a pedestrian while cutting through PG Community Center, apologized. Can’t wait to get back to having a bell – carries much further than my voice.
Have been carrying a camelback because of lack of both water bottles and cages – works much better than a nalgene in a backpack, but still leaves a big sweaty spot.
Got a “nice bike” from a whole family who was walking to the Metro, exchanged good mornings.

Oh, and stopped by UPS to pick up a mystery package they would not leave on my porch – twas a 16gb iPad that came from Solar City as part of a promo deal for putting solar on my house… It’d been so long I’d completely forgotten about it – I was worried when I picked it up that my Amazon had been hacked or something. What a nice surprise!

All told, an excellent commute.

[ebubar]

Didn’t have to work today. No 30 mile RT commute today. Instead, took the bike out for a quick 13 miles around Sligo Creek with the new Clipless pedals. No falls, one slight panic moment but “Dirt-like” reflexes kicked in to keep me standing!

[Subby]

Sucked.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Subby 55874 wrote:

Sucked.

I take it you’re not back on the bike yet?

[eminva]

@Subby 55874 wrote:

Sucked.

Subby!!! Are you back on the bike?

Liz

[Subby]

Yeah…not yet. Still driving and crying.

Saw the doc this week and I get to start running in July and we are shooting for first week of August for the bike. Fingers crossed, because this is KILLING me.

I miss coming here every day and swapping stories.

[mello yello]

A bit late starting this morning – stopped to talk to the tree crew cleaning up the alley… but made it in 10 minutes later than I was shooting for nonetheless. I’m improving my time, figuring out which stops are critical and which are optional (yes, I break the law where it’s safe – another conversation). Also, it’s faster to ride hills on the street than stay flat on the sidewalk.

This marks my 10th one-way commute since BTWD and 50% for the week
Monday-drive in, carpool home
Tuesday – bike in, drive home
Wednesday – drive in, bike home
Thursday – bike both ways
Friday – bike in, drive home.

I think I can add one more by putting the bike in the car on Mondays… but errands on Tuesday evening requires the car.

[mello yello]

Started 10 minutes late, still got in at the same time – I hit more green lights than usual – not waiting at stops, combined with keeping my speed up, shaved quite a bit of time. 40 minutes total.

Yesterday, I downloaded Strava, and recorded my commute home. This morning I completely forgot to turn it on to see the difference (there is a big difference – the 435 ft of elevation is all uphill on the way home) Strava said I did the homeward trip in 43 minutes moving time yesterday, I think it was just over 50:00 total.

Maybe tomorrow morning I’ll have it together and remember to start the recorder.

[dcv]

Starting my commute this morning I noticed I may have used 2 of my 17 skid patches a little too much.

[mello yello]

a “loaded” commute this morning. two changes of clothes, two lunches, camelback bladder, coffee, patch kit, multi tool, tire levers, pump, keys, wallet, badge, phone… didn’t forget anything, but could only carry it in an over-the shoulder Chico bag (nylon reusable grocery bag). Heavy and unwieldy. I can’t wait to get my panniers back when my new bike is built. Having all that hanging on one side of my back made me feel heavy and unbalanced, and this trip felt slower than yesterday.

I remembered to turn on Strava. It’s funny – it thinks I maintained 14.7 mph and reached 50.8 mph! (there is a discrepancy between the “top speed” it lists and the peak speed on the graph – which says 41.8 mph – much more believable, but probably still optimistic. I have never used a cycle computer before, so have no idea how fast I usually ride.

[mello yello]

@dcv 56300 wrote:

Starting my commute this morning I noticed I may have used 2 of my 17 skid patches a little too much.

No kidding! Where I ride those this spots would suck up the bottle glass like nobody’s business!
I can’t wait to get my fixed gear back, but never did do much skidding.
Do you ride brakeless?
Do you have crazy amounts of extra energy that can only be discharged through epic shreds?
Is your bike just too light? (I can fix that for you with a frame swap.)

Looks like it might be time for a new tire.

[KelOnWheels]

There should be a special Strava achievement for hitting Every. Single. Red. Light. On. Penn.

Still a better love story than Twilight

[consularrider]

@KelOnWheels 56312 wrote:

There should be a special Strava achievement for hitting Every. Single. Red. Light. On. Penn.

Still a better love story than Twilight

But doesn’t that happen on every ride? :p

[Author]

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